Road-map



E. W. MASON ANU CA D. MILLER.

ROAD MAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3l. |920- 1,395,509. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

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ROAD MAP.

uUpLIC/TON FILED MAR. 31, 1920. 1,395,509. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

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EARL W. MASON AND CHESTER D. MILLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Y ROAD-MAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application led March 31, 1920. Serial No. 370,155.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, EARL W. MASON and CHESTER D. MILLER, citizens of the United States, both residing at Los Angeles, in the count of Los Angeles, State of California, have Invented new and useful Improvements in Road-Maps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to road maps and it is an object of the invention to provide a simple, effective, and extremely inexpensive device of that character.

The present invention relates generally to road maps of the character set forth in our co-pending application entitled Road maps Serial No. 317,034, tiled August 12, 1919, and it has for an object the provision of an improved simplified device of that general character. Further, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to road maps to be used by motorists but that it may be employed to carry maps for aviators, etc.

A particular and noteworthy feature of the device provided'by the invention is its simple, compact construction and arrangement. The extreme simplicity of construction renders the device easily and therefore inexpensively manufactured while its compactness makes it convenient and sightly.

A further feature of the invention is thc manner in which the map carrying spools are removably mounted in the casing. Each spool is mounted on a rod which is not detachable from the casing but may be released at one end from the casing and moved to a position where the spool may be removed from it.

Other objects and features of the invention are set forth in, and will be understood from, the following specification of a preferred embodiment of the invention throughout which reference is'had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a face view of the device; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by line 3 3 on Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one end portion of `one of the spool carrying rods showing'the manner in which the spool is held against lextends between two spools 11.

rotation relative to the rod and also the spring which opposes rotation of the rod and spool; Fig. 7 is a view showing the casing opened with a part ofthe body of the casing broken away, to show the manner in which the spools Inay be placed in or removed from the casing; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the casing showing the manner in which the guide rollers are mounted.

Throughout the drawings the numeral 1() designates the map which is mounted on and The spools 11 are removably carried on pins or rods 12 rotatably carried in a suitable easing 13.

The map 10 is a comparatively long narrow strip o f paper or'other like flexible, more or less transparent, material and has printed or otherwise suitably marked on it information and data desirable and valuable to motorists. In the preferred form of map the paperV or strip of flexible material is black on its outer face and the marks are white. The map is removable from the spools 11 so that various suitable maps may bearranged in the casing at the motorists convenience. The ends of the map 10 are somewhat tapered and are arranged through slots 14 in the spools l1. The slots 14 are comparatively long and narrow and are arranged diametrically through the spools to intersect the bores 15 which carry the rodsv 12. In practice, the ends of the map 10 are placed through the slots 14 in t-he spools before the spools are arranged on the rods 12 so that when the spools are placed on the rods the portions of the map at the bores 15 are pushed to one side and firmly held or clamped between the sides of the bores 15 by the rods, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The casing 13 comprises a flat rectangular base 17 adapted to be mounted on or secured to the dash or other suitable part of the vehicle. The base 17 is preferably formed of sheet metal and has outwardly extending flanges 17a at its edges. The body of the casing, which is adapted to fit over and be carried by the base 17 comprises side walls 18 and 19, and walls 20 and 21, and a transparent top plate 22. The end wall 21 of the body is hinged at 23 to the base 17 and the end wall 20 of the body carries a spring catch 24 which coperates with an inwardly bent portion 25 of the flange 17a at the upper end of the base, to hold the body to the base, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 of the drawings. The spring catch 24 is preferably secured to the end wall 20 by a rivet 26 having a head 27 at the outside of the casing which forms a knob or handle by which the body of the casing maybeoperated or gripped in order to open or close it. 'The top plate 22, which is preferably glass, 1s secured to the inwardly turned edges of the side walls and end walls by a suitable metal beading 28, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8 of the drawings.

The rods 12 which carry the spools 11 are mounted at the ends of the casing 13 being carried in suitable bores 30 in the side wall 19 so as to extend across or through the casing and into bores 31 in the side wall 18. The rods 12 project somewhat from the wall 19 and carry knobs 32 by which they may be turned or rotated. Suitable helical springs 33 are carried on the rods 12 between washers 34 and the inner faces of side wall 19, as clearly shown in the drawings. The washers 34 are held in place on the rods 12 by suitable U-shaped wire keys 35 which extend through bores 36 in the rods 12. The springs 33 being' interposed between the washers 34 and side wall 19 tend at all times to hold the knobs 32 in engagement with or against the side wall 19 and also tend to keep the rods12-in place in the bores 31 in side wall 18. When the spools 11 are arranged on the rods 12 the keys 35 engage or extend into slots 38 in the ends of the spools, and the flange members 39a, which are arranged at the endsof the spools, engage the washer 34, as clearly shown throughout the drawings. The 'engagement of the slots 38 by the keys 35 lock the spools' and rods together against relative rotary movement s0 that rotation of the knobs 32 will cause rotation of the spools 11. It will be noted in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 3 of the dra-wings, that the bores 31 are in indentations 39 formed in the side wall 18. The indentations 39 arc engaged by the ends of the spools 11 and cause the spools to be properly spaced ,from the side wall 18 so that the map 10 will operly register with the top plate 22.

hen the spools are in place in the casingV they are frictionally held against rotation by the springs 33. The springs 33 cause the washers to bear against the spools thereby causing the spools to bear against the indentations 39. Further it'will be noted that the rods lit comparatively loosely through the bores 30 and that they are only sufficiently long to extend completely through bores 31.

When it is desired to place spools on or remove them from the rods 12 the casing 13 may be opened, by swinging the body of the casin away from the base 17, as shown in Fig. 7, and the knobs 32 on the rods 12 may be moved or drawn away from the side wall 19, compressing the springs 33, until the ends of the rods 12 have been withdrawn from the bores 31. The rods 12 may then be positioncd, as shown in Fig. 7, allowing the spools to be easily and conveniently placed on or removed from them.

Before the spools 11 are placed in the casing13 the map 10, which is to be arranged to extend between them, is arranged over guide rollers 41 carried between the side walls 18 and 19 near the ends of the top plate 22, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8. The guide rollers 41 are formed with trunnions 41a, at their ends, which are carried in bores 41b in the side walls 18 and 19. The guide rollers 41 guide the map 10 so as to keep it properly arranged or stretched under the top plate 22.

An electric light or bulb 40 is carried in a clamp or socket 42 in the casing 13 so as to be below the portion of the map 10 which is between the guide rollers 41. The bulb 40 is provided so that the map 10 can beefectively illuminated, or made visible, at night or in the dark. The socket 42 comprlses two spring arms 42a and is mounted on a suitable bracket 43 secured to the base 17 by rivets 44 or other suitable means. The arms of the socket are provided with suitable notches 45 to receive the pins 46 which project or extend from the base 47 of the bulb 40. The arrangement of the pins 46 in the notches 45 prevents longitudinal displacement, or movement, of the base 47 in the socket 42. One side of the circuit, adapted to supply the bulb 40, is grounded either on the casing 13 or on the structure on which the casing is mounted while the other side of circuit connects to a movable contact 5G adapted to be moved into engagement with or away from the contact 51 arranged at the end of base 47. The contact 50 comprises a bolt carried on, and insulated from, a spring arm 52 secured to the base 17 at 53. A lead wire 54 extends into the casing 13 through a bore 55, in the base 17, and connects to the bolt or contact'50 in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7. The spring arm 52 is arranged to normallyhold the contact 50 out of engagement with they Contact 51, as shown in Fig. 3, and is adapted to be moved inwardly so as to cause the contact 50 to engage contact 51 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. In order to provide a means for operating or moving the spring arm 52 and for holding it in the position shown in Fig. 5 an extension 60 is formed on the arm 52 to extend through a slot 61 in the flange 17 formed at the edge of base A17. The extension 60 projects from the casing 13 forming a convenient grip for the operator. A suitable notch 63 is formed in the extension 60 to engage a side of the slot and hold the spring arm 52 in the position shown in gagement with .the side of the slot 61 and it 1s desired to release the arm 52 and turn off the bulb 40, it is merely necessary to move the extension 60 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5 and then allow it to be moved outwardly from the casing by the resiliency of arm 52. This particular control mechanism is very simple and inexpensive in construction and is extremely convenient and effective.

It will be noted that the bracket 43 is shaped and arrangedin the casing to form a carrier or pocket for a book 81. The book 81, to be carried in the carrier formed by the bracket 43, may be of any desired character; for instance it may be a note book or a book of general information to be used in connection with, or for explanationof, the map 10. To permit of convenient placing of the book in or removal of the book from the carrier the flange at one side of the base 17 is turned ldown at 80 as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7.

The hinged connection 23 between the body of the casing and the base of the casing comprises a rod or pin 23a. The pin 23a is removable from the body and base to allow the body to be detached from the base. In practice the body and base being hinged together makes it easy and convenient for the motorist to open the casing to obtain' the book 8l, while the body being detachable from the base allows the motorist to completely remove the body in order to easily and conveniently place a map in or remove a map from the device. When it is desired to carry several maps showing different parts of the country, etc., the extra maps, or the maps in addition to the one carried on the spools 11, may be carried in clips 90 which are mounted on the bracket 43. The clips 90 are preferably simple spring clips arranged to carry the maps in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Having described a preferred form of our invention, we claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising a base and a body hinged to the base, the body comprising ends, sides each formed with bores andone formed with lindentations at the bores, and a sight opening, two rods carried in said bores to extend through the casing, apdso that each rod has only one of its ends removable from the bore which carries it, two spools, one removably carried on each rod to have one end in engagement with an indentation, means for preventing relative rotary movement between the spools and the rods, means for yieldingly holding the spools against the indentations, said means comprising resilient members mounted in the rods and contacting with the inner'wall of the casing opposite the indentation side thereof, an electric light arranged in the casing control means for the light, and a strip of thin flexible material wound on the spools and extending between them across the sight opening.

2. In a device of the casin having a sight opening, two spools remova ly mounted at opposite ends of the casing, a strip of thin flexible material wound on the spools to extend across the sight opening, an electric bulb carried in a socket arranged in the casing, control means for the electric bulb,said control means comprising a contact mounted on an arm to be insulated from the socket, the arm being adapted to normally hold the contact out of engagement with the bulb and be manually actuated to move the contact into engagement With the bulb, and means in connection With the arm' for actuating it from the exterior of the casing and holding it in its actuated position.

3.- In a device of the character described, a casing comprising a base and a body hinged to the base, the body comprising ends, sides each having bores and one only having indentations at the bores, and a sight opening, two rods carried in the bores to extend through the casing and so that each rod has only one end removable from the bore which carries it, two spools, one removably carried on each rod to have one end engage an indentation, means for preventing relative rotary movement between the spools and the rods, means for yieldingly holding the spools againstlthe indentations, said means comprising resilient members arranged on the rods at the other ends of the spools, and' contacting with the inner face of the casing, a strip of thin flexible material Wound on the spools to extend between them, means for guiding the strip of material across the sight opening, a socket mounted in the casing, a bulb arranged in the socket, an arm mounted in the casing, a contact carried by the arm to be insulated from the socket', the arm being adapted to normally hold the contact out of v engagement with the bulb and adapted to be actuated lto bring the. contact-into engagement with the bulb, and means in connection with the arm for actuating it from the exterior of the casing and releasably holding it in its actuated condition.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising a base, the body being formed with a sight opening, two spools, means for removably mounting the spools in the casing, a strip of thin flexible material wound on the spools to extend between them and across the sight opening, a bracket secured to the rear end of the casing, a socket mounted on said bracket, a bulb in said socket, and means in said bracket for the reception of a book.

5.. In a device ofthe character described, a casing comprising a base and a body detachably hinged to the base, the body comprischaracter described a I ing ends, sides each having bores and one -onl having indentations at the bores, and a sig t opening, two rods carried in the bores to extend through the casing and so that each rod has only one end removable Ifrom the bore which carries it, two spools, one removably carried on each rod to have one end en?"4 gage' an indentation, means for Vpreventing relative rotary movement between the spools and the rods, means for yieldlngly holding the spools against the indentations, sai

resilient members ar means comprisin ranged on the r s at the other ends of the s ools, and contacting with the inner face of t e casing, a strip of thin iexible .material wound on the s ools to extend between them,

means for guiding the strip of material across the sight opening, a bracket mounted on the base to form a carrier for abook, a socket mounted on the bracket, a bulb arranged in the socket, an arm mounted in the casing, a contactcarried by the arm to 4be insulated fromv the socket, the arm being adapted to normally hold the contact out o f engagement with thebulb and adapted to be actuated to bringthe contact into engagement with the bulb, and means in connection Iwith the-arm for actuating it from the exterior of the casing and releasably holding it in its actuated condition.

6. In a devicecf the class described, a casing comprising a base, a body hinged to the lower end thereof, said casing having sides one of which has indentations protruding from its inner face, a transparent front, end openings in said sides and indentations, rods extendin through said openings, spools journale in said rods, recesses in said spools adjacent the side opposite the indentations, keyson the rods extending into said yrecess for locking the 'rods to said spools,

means on said rods contacting with the casing for yieldingly holding the spool in engagement .with-the* indentation, and 'a strip with' the washer and the inner face of the casing forcing the spools into engagement vwith the indentations, a strip of flexible material wound on the spools and extending between them across the sight opening.

8. Ina device ofthe class described, a casr ing comprising a base, a body hinged toy the lower end thereof, said base having sides one of which has indentations'protruding from A its inner face, va transparent front end, openings in said sides and indentations, rods extending through said openings, spools journaled on saidirods, resilient means on said rods between the spools and the inner face 'of vthe casing for yieldingly holding the spools in en agement with said indentations,` a strip of exible material wound on the. spools and extending between them across the transparent front end, a bracket secured to the base member, a socket on said bracket, a bulb in said socket, and manually operating means extending through the base .for lorltning an electric contact to .light said In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this '22d day of March 1921.

EARL w; MASON. CHESTER D. MILLER.

p Witness:

VIRGINIA BERINGER.

JAso 

